Clutch



,June 14, 1927. I 1,632,526

A'. V. D. WILLGOOS CLUTCH Filed April 24. 1925 INVENTOR. ,lfm/)FEW ka iff/z $00.9.

f4 TTORNEYS .$51, novel features will be particularly Patented Jane 14, lez/1.v

l UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE.

ANDREWV. n. wILEcoos, or UPPER moNrcLATE, NEW JERSEY, AssIcNon rro WRIGHT aEEoNAU'rIcAL conronarIoN, A conronArIoN or NEW Yoan.

CLUTCH.

application sled aprill 24, '1925. serial nu.; 25,499.

This invention relates to clutches, and particularly to the type known as disc or plate clutches. Such clutches i are widely used lfr coupling internal combustion engines to parts driven thereby, as in ymotor.

boat engines, automobiles, and the like.

With clutches of this type, it has heretofore been necessaryv to.make' frequent adjustments in the operating mechanism to compensate for wear ofthe-plates or discs, and in order to retain the desired pressure on the vclutch plates or discs for any given extent of movement of the clutch operating mechanism.

An object of this inventionis to provi-de an improved clutch of this typeywith which frequent adjustments of the operating parts to obtain the desired pressure between the plates will be unnecessary; withwhich the 20 pressure between the plates will vremain substantially luniform' 4over a considerable period of operation; and with which a substantiall constant pressure between the clutch p ates and discs will be insured withp in reasonably wide limits of adjustment of the clutchA operating means. f

1A furtherA object is to provide an im-l proved-'clutch for accomplishing eachy and `all of the" above objects which will be rela-v `tively simple, compact,A durable, reliable, and

"'"iizlexpensive v Various other objects and'advantages will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, and the outhereinafter in connection wit the appended claims.A

The invention contemplates the provision:

` v Vof resilient buffers for the platesto insure 40 a constant and uniform pressure between the ,l plates when clutched, aswill appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing f vFig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a clutch device in coupled condition, constructed in accordance with the invention, and 'arranged 10 many suitable manner, but preferably for coupling two aligned shafts; v l

Fig. 2is'a4'si/milar sectional elevation-of a portion of the same onl a somewhatglarger scale, ywith the clutch in uncoupled .condi-r tion; and

a Fi 3 is a sectional end view of one-fof n removal. The studs may conveniently exfthe utch elements to be coupled. 'j

. an axial boss5 extendin pointed i In the illustrated embodiment'of the invention, a driving shaft 1 anddriven shaft l2 are placed end to end with their axes of `rotation aligned. The driving shaft 1 carries, upon the end adjoining the driven shaft, a cylindrical shell or ily wheel 3 which extends over in telescopic and spaced relaytion v vith the adjacent end. section of the driven shaft 2. The'driven shaft,l at the end within the shell 3 of` theA driving shaft, is provided with a. radial flange 4 which ,occu ies a portion of the length of the cavity withm the shell 3. The shell 3 may have within a recess 6 inthe adjacent end of t e driven shaft, so f that a ball or'roller bearing 7 may be inter-k posed between-them. v The radial {iange provided, upon its outer face, with a plurality of cavities or reeessesS, arranged 1n a substantially concentric row about the axis g1 of the driven shaft is of the driven element, and inleach recess or cavity a helical'spring 9 is disposed, with l one end Vofeachspring projectingl beyond Y the openlend of the cavity when its other end a uts `the inner end wall thereof. A plate 10 is'disposed u on the driven shaft 2 or movement 'towar and from the ian outer ends of the s rings 9, and concomitantly compresses al of the springs when it is forced toward the ilange 4.

The plate 10 carries a plurality of studs and limit the movement of the plate 10 away from the flange under the action of the springs 9. The splrings 9 are of such a length that'when t e studs are provided as shown and when the movement of the plate 10 is limited by the heads 12 as shown in Fig. `2, the sprlngs will be under` considerab e initial stress or compression. This compression should 4be approximately that of the desired load on the plates of the clutch. The studs 11-may be secured to the plate '4 thereof. This plate 10 abuts against t e I the studs 11 have reduced threaded ends 13.

10 their ends in the plate 10 may be riveted over las at 14 to prevent their unintentional tend axially through the springs 9 as illustrated, or they may extend through separate passages in the flange 4.

The peripheryof the driven shaft`2, adjacent the' ange 4, is provided with one or more ribs or keys which extend in a direction endwise of the driven shaft, and the overlapping section of the cylindrical shell 3 is provided with one or more similar but internal keys or ribs 16 which also extend endwise of the shafts. A plurality of clutch plates 17 and 18 are disposed upon the driven shaft over the portion within the cylindrical shell 3, a number of the plates, such as the plates 17, having notches which receive and slide along the keys or ribs 16 of the shell 3, and the remainlng plates 18 having notches which slidingly receive and slide along the keys or ribs l5 of the driven shaft 2.- The plates 17 and 18 will preferably -be arranged alternately, so that every alternate plate will be keyed or coupled to -while being capable of free sliding) one of said shafts and free of the other,

movement in a direction lengthwise of oth of said shafts.

The clutch plates 17 and 18`are arranged to abut face to face with one another and with the plate 10, and the plate 10 may also, if desired and as illustrated, have notches or keyways slidingly receiving the keys or,l

ribs 15 of the driven sha-ft, so as to serve also as one of the clutch plates. The outermost clutch plate is preferably made somewhat thicker than the others, so as to receive and transmit to the -other plates, pressure from suitable operating means which will be described presently.y

A collar 19 is mounted upon the driven shaft adjacent the clutch plates, and is preferably threaded thereon as shown in Fig. 1. This collar is provided with a lurality of radially disposed ears 20 to whic operating levers 21 are pivoted by pins 22. These operating levers 21 have cam arms 23 which will engage with and compress the plates of the clutch, whenever the long arms of the levers 21 are moved in directions away from the shaft 2.

The free ends of the long arms of the levers 21 are provided with slots 24 in which links 25 are pivoted by pins 26, the links 25 being connected by pins 27 to an o eratin sleeve 28 which is slidable endwise, an rotatable upon, the driven shaft 2. The pins 27 are provided upon ears 29 of the sleeve 28, and extend through slots 30 in the links 25, which slots arey preferably elongated lengthwise of the links. The elongated slots4 30 provide lost motion for a movement of the sleeve'28, which lost motion may, in marine installations, be utilized to advantage 'in operating a reverse gear mechanism (not shown). This lost motion, however, is not essentiel to the present invention, and, therefore, the slots 30 may be mere bearing apertures.

The sleeve 28 is provided with an annular groove 31 which cooperates with the fork arms 32 of an operating lever 33, the lever 33 being suitably pivoted as at 34, and provided with an operating handle 35. Whenever the operating or controlling lever 33 is rocked about its pivot 34, it will shift the sleeve 28 endwise and either separate or draw toward one another the long arms of the levers 21.

A nut 36 may be threaded upon the driven shaft 2 and against the collar 19, so as to lock the latter to the shaft for rotation therewith, and the sleeve 28 and levers 21 will rotate with the driven shaft. The pins 32 on the fork arms 32, which run in the annular Groove 31 of the sleeve 28, will permit o rotation of these parts with the driven shaft, while being capable of causing endwise movement of the sleeve 28 upon the desired load on the clutch plates. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 2 which is the free, or uncoupled, or idling condition of the clutch. In thls condition of the clutch, the heads 12 of the studs 11 by their engagement with the flange 4 will limit the movement of the plate l0 in a direction away from the flange 4, and thus when the plates are released by a movement of the long arms of the levers 21 toward one another, pressure between the plates will be relieved after the .studs limit movement of the plate 10. When the pressure between the plates is relieved, there will be no driving connection between the driving and driven shafts.

L et it be assumed that the shafts are to be coupled. The lever 33 will be operated in a direction to the right .(Fi 1) into the position shown in Fig. 1, an during this movement' the sleeve 28 will be moved along the driven shaft 2 into the position shown in Fig. 1. During such movement it will act through the links 25 to separate the projecting long arms of the levers 21. The levers 21 will thus be rocked about their pivots 22, and carry their cam arms or projections 23 in directions to engage the pack of clutch dises or plates and force them endwise of the driven shaft and against the plate 10,

The movement of the sleeve 28 carries the inner ends of the links 25 towards the clutch member, thereby moving the ends of the levers 21 outward and forcing the clutch disc members against the abutting springs, until the links 25 reach a position substantially at right angles to the axis of the shaft, this being the point of maximum pressure of the dises against the abutting springs. A furmittedl through the discs an 4 ther movement of the sleeve 28 carries the links 25 past the maximumpoint to the posit-ion shown in Fig. 1 where the ends of the links 25 are brought to a stop against portions of the levers 2l, in which position they are firmly held by-the ressure transthe levers 21 from the abutting s rings 9.

The movement o the plate 1() will be resiliently restricted by the buffer action of the springs 9 and, therefore, the pressure between the plates will be the combined pressure upon the plate 10 by the springs 9. During a limited movement of the cam projections 23, the springs 9 will yield to allow of the continued'v movement of the clutch discs or plates while maintaining substantially the same uniform and constant pressure between the'jplates or discs, which as pointed out` will be equal to the combined pressures of'the springs 9.

During the compression of the springs 9 the studs 11 will move through the flange 4-and the heads 12 of the studs will move away from the `flange toa limited extent as shown in Fig. l. The coupled condition of the clutch is shown in Fig. 1. Inasmuch as pa-rt of the plates are keyed to one of the shafts and the other'plates to the other shaft, the pressure between them face to face will provide sufficient` friction to insure their concomitant rotation together, and therefore the driving and driven shafts will 'be frictionally coupled through the plates.

It will be observed that sufficient space will be left between theclutch plate 10 and the adjacent face of the flange 4, when'the springs are under their initialk compression, as shown'n Fig. 2 to permit of a limited movement of the plate 10 and thus a compression of the springs 9, .to some extent beyond their normal minimum com ression. It will vbe observed that substantially the same pressure will be exerted upon the plates of the clutch throughout a considerable vari ation of movement of the operating lever and parts, and this. uniform and constant pressure will be obtained for a considerable period of operation even'though there mag be considerable wear between the clutc plates.. If, for any reason, adjustment of the pressure is desired, the nut 36 maybe loosened, the, collar 19 adjusted along the I driven shaft ineither direction as desired and for the desired extent of adjustment, after which it may be locked thereto by tightening of the nut 36 against the same. However, frequent adjustments of the nut 36 and collar 19 will be unnecessary.

' While the shafts 1 and-2 have been described and referred to as the driving and driven shafts respectively, it will be understood that either shaft may the driving element and the other the driven element. It will be obvious that various ch 1n aie deans, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

1. A clutch comprising in combination a driving shaft, a driven shaft and a coupling means` therebetween, comprising a cupsliaped member having internal splines, and attached to one of said shafts, a disc member positioned within said cup-shaped member, attached to the other of said shafts, and having splines cooperating therewith, a plurality of annular friction-disc members, successive discs alternately having internal and external notch sectors, adapted to engagei ment with said s lines, means comprising a plurality of bu er springs positioned in openings in said attached disc member, and

a pluralit of bolts extending lthrough said attached isc member, cooperating with one of said friction disc members, and holding said springsy under initial compression, for

ieldably sup orting said friction disc mem- 'i ers, and lin -lever means for frictionally engaging said friction ldisc members.

2. A clutch comprising in combination a driving shaft, a driven shaft and a coupling means therebetween, comprising a cupshaped member havin internal s lines, and

attached to one of sai shafts a disc member positioned within said cupliaped member, attached to the other of said shafts, Vand having splines cooperatin therewith, a plu- ,I

lll)A iyieldably sup orting said friction disc memrs, and lin -lever means vfor frictionally engaging` said friction disc members, comprising a collar attached to said second mentioned shaftand having pivots thereon, a plurality of bell crank levers pivoted' in said collar member, one end of each thereof bein adapted to en age said friction dise.

mem rs, a `sliding seeve surrounding said second mentioned shaft, means foricontrollin the movement of said collar,'and a lu-, raht 'of links cooperating between said ll eran levers and said collar, and means com-i prisingsto s mteractin between said links and said eversy where links may be carried slig tly beyond a midoint and held there by the pressure of said uier springs. A

3. In a friction clutch, frictionsurfaoes,

12sy said collar and f means for the positive engagement thereof, comprising levers and links, and a manually movable collar cooperating therewith, spring buffer means cooperating with said frlction surfaces and adapted to movement to a greater extent than that required for positive engagement, and means comprising interacting stops between said links and said levers, adapted to arrest the movement of said links and collar at a point slightly be/ yond the midpoint thereof, whereby a substantial pressure against the operation of said spring buffer means is required to begin the disengagement of said friction surfaces.

4. In combination, a source of power having a shaft, an annular' iy-wheel attached thereto, a driven shaft cooperatin therewith, and a coupling means there tween comprising a plurality of splines within said annular fl -wheel, a plurality of splines upon sai driven shaft, a plurality of friction discs positioned therebetween and having alternate interior and exterior notched sectors respectively en aging with splines upon said shaft and-wit in said flywheel, a spring abutment for said friction discs and means for holding said spring abutment under initial compressiommeans comprising a plurality of links and levers for applying pressure to said friction discs and moving them' against the pressure o said spring abutment, and a stop on said link and lever means, whereby actuation of said links and levers moves said friction discs'against said spring abutment through a maximum point in said levers, said stop being adapted to limit the movement past said reversal point to an amount insufficient to reduce the pressure on said discs.

5. In a friction clutch, friction surfaces, means for the positive engagement thereof, comprising levers and links, and a manually movable collar cooperating therewith, spring buffer means cooperating with said friction surfaces and adapted to movement to a greater extent than that required for positive engagement, and means comprising interacting stops between said links and said levers, said levers and links having a high point, adapted to produce maximum pressure on, and movement of, said friction surfaces, against said spring buffer means, said spring buffer means bein adapted to hold said levers and links agalnst said stops, in the engaged position of said clutch.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

ANDREW V. D. WILLGOOS. 

